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Dirty headphones can be a pain for many. If your headphones are dirty, this can result in muffled sounds and can expose your ears to bacteria. Most headphones can be cleaned with either hydrogen peroxide or dish soap and water. If your headphones have detachable tips, remove them and clean them separately.

Steps

Method1

Using Hydrogen Peroxide

1

Remove and wipe down the headphone tips. Some headphones have clear tips covering the ends of the buds. If there are clear tips on your headphones, remove them before cleaning your headphones. Wipe them down with a soft cloth with a small amount of hydrogen peroxide and then set them aside to dry.[1]

2

Apply hydrogen peroxide to the ear buds. Dislodge any obvious debris. Get a soft cloth mildly damp with hydrogen peroxide. Rub down the mesh screens of the earbuds. Make sure to remove any earwax or obvious dirt and debris using your soft cloth.[2]

3

Set the earbuds aside. After applying the hydrogen peroxide set your earbuds aside. Allow the hydrogen peroxide to soak into your earbuds for about five minute. This will help soften any lingering ear wax, dirt, and debris.[3]

4

Clean the earbuds with a toothbrush. Use a soft bristled toothbrush. Gently scrub down your earbuds, focusing on the mesh screen in particular. Scrub down the buds so you remove any wax or dirt blocking the holes in your earbuds.[4]

5

Dry your earbuds. Gently shake out the earbuds to remove any obvious water. From there, dab them dry further with a paper towel. Set them aside if they're still wet to let them dry completely.[5]

6

Reassemble your earbuds. If you removed the tips of your headphones earlier in the process, put them back in place once everything is dry. Your headphones should now be clean and ready to use.[6]

Method2

Cleaning with Soapy Water

1

Remove the tips if possible. If your headphones have removable tips remove them before you begin the cleaning process. Rub them down with a soft cloth dampened with warm water. Then, set them aside to dry.[7]

2

Wet a cloth with water and dishwashing detergent. Use a very small amount of dishwashing detergent on a wet soft cloth. After adding the detergent, wring the rag out thoroughly over the sink. It should be just barely damp, and only contain a small amount of soap, when you apply it to your headphones.[8]

3

Wipe off the headphones. Wipe down your headphones with your rag. Focus particularly on the mesh screens, making sure to remove any dirt and debris that's blocking the holes in the headphones.[9]

4

Rinse your headphones. Take a new cloth and get it damp with clean water. Remember to wring it out so it's just barely damp before applying it to your headphones. Wipe down your headphones to remove any soap residue.[10]

5

Let them dry and reassemble them. Set your headphones aside until they're completely dry. When everything is dry to the touch, put the caps back on your headphones. You can now use your headphones again.[11]

Method3

Avoiding Common Mistakes

1

Read the instruction manual if you have it. If you still have the instructions manual for your headphones, you should read that before cleaning them. Some headphones may have specific cleaning guidelines you should follow.

2

Do not disassemble the headphones if they don't have silicone covers. Only disassemble your headphones if they have silicone covers you can easily slip on and off. It is not necessary to disassemble other parts of the headphones to clean them and it could cause damage.[12]

3

Unplug the headphones before using them. Never clean headphones that are still plugged in to any electronic device. Always unplug your headphones before beginning the cleaning process.

Article Info

This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Together, they cited information from 12 references. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article meets our high standards.